Billboard Relocation Code Amendments. City Council Transportation and Environment Committee March 23, 2009

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2 Billboard Relocation Code Amendments City Council Transportation and Environment Committee March 23, 2009

3 PURPOSE Brief the committee on a code amendment to the current provisions allowing the relocation of billboards located on land acquired by a governmental entity Provide additional information specifically on: Relocating billboards that are within 2,000 feet of the Trinity River Maximum sign height for billboards adjacent to expressways The impact of allowing billboards to be relocated to office zoning districts 2

4 BACKGROUND Section 51A permits relocation of billboards located on or overhanging land acquired by a governmental entity subject to certain restrictions. Billboards are often located on land needed for highway expansion projects and rail transit projects. 25 billboards from a single sign company were displaced as a result of construction of the northwest and southeast (Green) DART lines The Transportation and Environment Committee was briefed on May 27, 2008 and instructed staff to bring a proposal forward to modify the existing relocation provisions. 3

5 BACKGROUND The Zoning Ordinance Advisory Committee considered this issue at three public meetings between October and December of 2008 On December 4, 2008 the Zoning Ordinance Advisory Committee recommended approval On January 8, 2009 the City Plan Commission recommended approval 4

6 BACKGROUND Transportation and Environment Committee was briefed on the City Plan Commissions recommendation on February 9, 2009 at which time the committee requested additional information on: Relocating billboards that are within 2,000 feet of the Trinity River Maximum sign height for billboards adjacent to expressways The impact of allowing signs to be relocated to office zoning districts 5

7 Expressway Sign Height Current definition of height for expressway signs The height of an expressway sign may be extended to 50 feet, or to 30 feet above the nearest point on the nearest travel surface of the nearest expressway or new expressway, whichever is higher,, if the total height of the sign does not exceed 60 feet above the ground at the base of the sign Current definition of height for other signs HEIGHT, as applied to a sign, means the vertical distance between the highest part of the sign or its supporting structure, whichever is higher, and a level plane going through the nearest point of the vehicular traffic surface of the adjacent improved public right-of of-way,, other than an alley. In the event a sign is equidistant from more than one improved public right-of of-way, none of which are alleys, the highest point shall be used 6

8 Expressway Sign Height CPC Proposed A relocated sign may not exceed an overall height of 42.5 feet measured from the highest point of the sign to the grade level of the centerline of the nearest travel lane, not including ramps, closest to the sign, at a point perpendicular to the sign location, except that in no instance may a relocated sign exceed 80 feet measured from ground level. 7

9 Expressway Sign Height 8

10 Expressway Sign Height 9

11 Expressway Sign Height Current Height Allowed 50 ft 42 ft 26 ft 10

12 Expressway Sign Height 60 ft Max Current Height Allowed 30 ft 56 ft 26 ft 11

13 Expressway Sign Height 80 ft Max Height Under Proposal Current Height Allowed 42 ft 60 ft 68 ft 26 ft 12

14 Expressway Sign Height Proposed Max Height Current Height Allowed 42 ft 80 ft 60 ft 38 ft 13

15 Expressway Sign Height Proposed The height of a relocated expressway sign may not exceed an overall height of 50 feet, or feet above the nearest point on the nearest travel surface of the nearest expressway, whichever is higher, if the total height of the sign does not exceed feet above the ground at the base of the sign. 14

16 Expressway Sign Relocation to Office Districts Existing Signs may not be relocated within 300 feet of a non-business zoning district. A Specific Use Permit may authorize lesser spacing. Proposed Expressway Signs may not be relocated within 300 feet of a non-business zoning district except that LO, MO and GO zoning districts shall be considered business zoning districts (otherwise considered non- business for purposes of the sign code). A Specific Use Permit may authorize lesser spacing. 15

17 Expressway Sign Relocation to Office Districts Expressway signs are the only billboards which could be relocated to an office zoning district Signs relocated to an office district would still need to comply with all other spacing requirements 300 feet from a residential district 500 feet from an historic district, park or escarpment zone 500 feet from another expressway sign 2000 feet from the Trinity River 16

18 Non-Business Office Districts 17

19 Legend Zoning GO(A) LO-1 LO-2 LO-3 MO-1 MO-2 D(A) TH-1(A) TH-2(A) TH-3(A) R-10(A) R-5(A) R-13(A) R-7.5(A) R-16(A) R-1/2ac(A) R-1ac(A) CH MF-1(A) MF-1(A)(SAH) MF-2(A) MF-2(A)(SAH) MF-3(A) MF-4(A) 18

20 Legend Zoning GO(A) LO-1 LO-2 LO-3 MO-1 MO-2 D(A) TH-1(A) TH-2(A) TH-3(A) R-10(A) R-5(A) R-13(A) R-7.5(A) R-16(A) R-1/2ac(A) R-1ac(A) CH MF-1(A) MF-1(A)(SAH) MF-2(A) MF-2(A)(SAH) MF-3(A) MF-4(A) 300 ft Residential Buffer 19

21 Sign Relocation in Proximity to the Trinity River Corridor Existing No detached non-premise sign may be relocated within 2,000 feet of the Trinity River. For purposes of this subsection, the term Trinity River means the portion of the river south of the confluence of the Elm and West forks as depicted on the most recent version of the flood insurance rate maps published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency Existing 20

22 Sign Relocation in Proximity to the Trinity River Corridor Proposed A Specific Use Permit may authorize lesser spacing than that required above 21

23 Sign Relocation in Proximity to the Trinity River Corridor Measurement is taken from the centerline of the river Additional provision that billboards may not be relocated within 500 feet of a public park Applies to both expressway signs and signs on thoroughfares such as Industrial and Lamar. 22

24 Sign Relocation in Proximity to the Trinity River Corridor 23

25 Sign Relocation in Proximity to the Trinity River Corridor ft Buffer 24

26 Sign Relocation in Proximity to the Trinity River Corridor ft Buffer 25

27 Sign Relocation in Proximity to the Trinity River Corridor ft Buffer 26

28 Sign Relocation in Proximity to the Trinity River Corridor ft Buffer 27

29 Signs Relocated on Same Parcel Existing Signs relocated to a remainder must comply with the size, height, spacing, setback and other restrictions Industry Proposal Allow signs relocated to a remainder to maintain the same degree of non-conformity as original sign 28

30 Signs Relocated on Same Parcel Industry proposal would make it easier to relocate to remainder but not increase the degree of non-conformity of the original sign (i.e. a sign that was non-conforming relative to separation between signs or zoning classifications could maintain, but not increase, the non- conformity) This is similar to what is proposed for signs in DART right-of of-way when located within 500 ft of the original sign Spacing requirements can be addressed today through SUP process to maintain non-conformity Implications to Trinity (would allow signs to maintain proximity to Trinity if relocated to remainder) 29

31 Signs Relocated on Same Parcel (d) Relocation to remainder. (1) All relocated signs must be relocated on the remainder of the tract from which the parcel of land was acquired d unless relocating to the remainder is not possible for reasons such as: (A[1]) there is no remainder; (B) the sign owner is unable to obtain an agreement from the property owner of the remainder; or (C[2]) the remainder is not of sufficient size or suitable configuration to allow the relocated sign: (i) to be as visible as the original sign from the nearest main traveled thouroughfare; ; or (ii) to fully comply with the size, height, spacing, setback, and other restrictions in this article. (2) Signs relocated to a remainder may not be less conforming than the original sign 30

32 Recommendations Staff - Approval ZOAC Approval City Plan Commission - Approval 31

33 Next Steps City Council Public Hearing Mach 25,